Article by
Barbados Today

Published on
June 14, 2015

Minister of Social Care Steve Blackett has urged Barbadians not to forsake the elderly in their time of need.
The Minister of Social Care, Steve Blackett, has advised Barbadians against casting off the elderly in their old age and forsaking them when their strength fails.
Blackett made this plea today while addressing the congregation at the Vauxhall Methodist Church, Vauxhall, Christ Church, as Barbadians joined the rest of the world in celebrating World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.
Noting that Barbados was the first country in the Caribbean with more than 10 per cent of its population being classified as elderly, the St Michael Central Member of Parliament disclosed that the National Assistance Board (NAB) was working collaboratively with stakeholders to prevent elderly abuse.
Blackett said there were concerns that elderly people, especially women, often faced multiple forms of discrimination which were compounded by age, disability or other circumstances.
The Minister of Social Care revealed that the NAB, in conjunction with the Planning Committee for Activities for Older Persons, had created a National Protocol for the Prevention, Reporting, Investigation and Management of Elder Abuse.
Blackett said: “This protocol, along with the recently passed National Policy on Aging, endeavours to safeguard the rights of older persons, procure legal protection where it is now provided and help to create an environment that is safe and free from exploitation and abuse”.
He invited everyone to love, respect and protect the elderly who would have survived the dehumanizing social and economic environment of the pre-Independence period, as well as contributed to the development of the country during their working life.

Why ask what de government is doing for the elderly? The elderly and their plight is a concern of all. We need to take responsibility for our elderly relatives and stop abandoning them!

Some persons have genuine reasons why they may not be able to take care of an elderly relative but some others have the means and refused to assists. Remember these persons looked after us now we need to reciprocate.

Some people don’t want the elderly but they want they money shame shame……

Why ask what de government is doing for the elderly? The elderly and their plight is a concern of all. We need to take responsibility for our elderly relatives and stop abandoning them!
Some persons have genuine reasons why they may not be able to take care of an elderly relative but some others have the means and refused to assists. Remember these persons looked after us now we need to reciprocate.
Some people don’t want the elderly but they want they money shame shame……

Mr. Blackett you better build more homes to house the elderly for this is a cold, hard of heart generation we are dealing with, every man is almost for themselves, they don’t have compassion for no elderly relative, just don’t care
the mothers tell their children as soon as they reach adult go and mek ya own way I going and enjoy my life now and
the children tell their elderly parents you were no where around when I needed you, you left me all alone to fend for myself now go and take care of your old self, I am enjoying my life now and the cycle keeps repeating each generation
maybe you might have to implement an incentive program where you pay the relatives to care for their elderly or heed my advice and build more homes to accommodate the influx of abandoned pensioners

Mr. Blackett you better build more homes to house the elderly for this is a cold, hard of heart generation we are dealing with, every man is almost for themselves, they don’t have compassion for no elderly relative, just don’t care
the mothers tell their children as soon as they reach adult go and mek ya own way I going and enjoy my life now and
the children tell their elderly parents you were no where around when I needed you, you left me all alone to fend for myself now go and take care of your old self, I am enjoying my life now and the cycle keeps repeating each generation
maybe you might have to implement an incentive program where you pay the relatives to care for their elderly or heed my advice and build more homes to accommodate the influx of abandoned pensioners

My Mom just turned 83 yrs of age. Oh what a blessing! to be able to take care of this precious lady. There is so much we can attain from taking care of our elderly, and I am not talking about materialistic gain. I am talking about life’s teachings, we also must remember that we either die young or grow old, and one day we are going to want someone to take care of us also.

My Mom just turned 83 yrs of age. Oh what a blessing! to be able to take care of this precious lady. There is so much we can attain from taking care of our elderly, and I am not talking about materialistic gain. I am talking about life’s teachings, we also must remember that we either die young or grow old, and one day we are going to want someone to take care of us also.